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By Gary Washburn, Globe Staff

PHILADELPHIA -- The Celtics begin a treacherous stretch of games tonight against the Philadelphia 76ers, who have beaten the Celtics twice already this season, despite experiencing roster upheaval because of the absence of Andrew Bynum.

The Celtics will play five games in eight nights beginning tonight and continuing Wednesday in Indiana, Friday at home against the Atlanta Hawks, Sunday at the Oklahoma City Thunder and finally Tuesday at the Charlotte Bobcats.

With one game in the past seven days, Celtics coach Doc Rivers said rust may be an issue.

"If it was there, I wouldn't be shocked," he said before the team's shootaround at Wells Fargo Arena. "Hopefully we can play through it early enough to get the win. We've taken a lot of days off for this group because they need it."

*The Sixers snapped a seven-game losing streak by beating the Warriors on Saturday but lost at Washington on Sunday. They are seven games back of the Bucks with 24 to play.

*Rivers said Paul Pierce is not likely to get rest any time soon but the coach said he is monitoring Pierce's minutes.